Tag Archives: Hiphop

Claiming you want change, Give you glam and give you fame. Just a slave with your own chain. Now you made in the game singing, “No Love For Us.”

Tunji Ige’s The Love Project is above all a coming-of-age story, concentrating on Tunji’s life from ages 16 to 19. It’s a meditation on him as a young, black teenager dealing with relationships, rebellion, and the pressure to be cool. “For Us” is the opening song. Tunji says, “‘For Us’ I feel is a critique on the social climate as well as what someone like me has to battle through, being myself, especially with where I’m at. I’m an up-and-coming artist but still a young black kid who could be a victim to the system. ‘For Us’ is the conscience to balance this transition: Do you let it get to your head or do you keep pushing?”

So Hov aka Jay Z aka Jay Hova released his “demo” tape for us with an image that has history. Of course, they aren’t talking about that but I WILL. Why? Because all artist/photographers should get their credit. It’s like a producer in music. Even though these days we don’t read cd insert credits like we use too and most the time producers don’t get their credits unless they know the business. BUT needless to say… this one is worth talking about. The same guy that took HOV’s demo photo is the same guy that was Biggie’s favorite photographer and was invited when most weren’t.

Same guy that has more than one pic of Jay Z.

And has images of Wayne when he was “little” and almost tat-less (making up words is cool).

And this IS NOT the first time this image has made it across the world. It is currently being shown in Paris, France at the Maison Folie Moulins as well as in Jersey City, NJ.

This photographer has been behind some of Hiphop’s dopest covers and in magazines from Time to Vibe.

This notorious photographer is known to many as Brother Ernie but professionally it’s Ernie Paniccioli. Author of “Who Shot Ya?”, subject of “The Otherside of Hiphop” and last year inducted into the Hiphop Hall of Fame as well as most recently honored at Jersey City City Hall. Who is still humble, wise an undeniable force in Hiphop. But as we know most of today’s Hiphop doesn’t honor the legends like they should. Maybe it’s pride. Maybe they want to be the cool one and not give any shine. I mean why wouldn’t you want to embrace the dude that took pics of you before you were “on top”? Just for story or nostalgia purposes at least. I mean his site is dope and does cover a lot of ill content with culture. Maybe Hov doesn’t feel or think that way but to me it makes the story more meaningful. What do you think?

For over 30 years Ernie Paniccioli, who many call Brother Ernie, has captured the raw essence of graffiti and hiphop culture in New York and New Jersey. On Tuesday, Jan 13th we will honor him with a ceremony at Jersey City’s City Hall building. The show will include never seen before prints, personal artwork of Brother Ernies and have the chance to get your prints or books signed. He is a lovingly grumpy and totally great storyteller kind of guy who might look intimidating but is a cuddly bear who emanates love and respect.

After the show there will also be a Networking Mixer one block away starting at 9pm so join us – Bistro Cafe’! Meet with some of Jersey’s finest and continued conversations with hiphop legends. Brought to you by SocietyNeedsCulture.com Sounds by DJ Bizznice.

Ready to Die is the debut album of American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released September 13, 1994 on Sean “Puffy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records. It serves as the first release on the record label. Recording sessions for the album took place from 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of The Notorious B.I.G.’s experiences as a young criminal, referring to himself as “the black Frank White”. Ready to Die is his only studio album released during his lifetime; B.I.G. was murdered days prior to the release of his second album Life After Death (1997).

Ready to Die gained strong reviews on release and became a commercial success, reaching quadruple platinum sales. It was significant for revitalizing the East Coast hip hop scene, amid West Coast hip hop’s commercial dominance. The album’s second single, “Big Poppa”, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Ready to Die has been regarded by several music critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 133 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, making it the third highest hip hop album on the list. In 2006, Time included it on its list of the 100 greatest albums of all time.

The production on the album was mainly handled by Easy Mo Bee and The Hitmen, and it was generally well-received by critics. Rolling Stone described the beats as “heavy bottomed and slick,” enhancing the lyrics but not standing in their own right. The production is mainly sample-based with the samples varying from the percussion of funk tracks to the vocals of hip hop songs. Steve Huey presented some criticism over the beats, stating that the “deliberate beats do get a little samey, but it hardly matters: this is Biggie’s show” Cheo H. Coker depicted the beats as “heavy bottomed and slick, but B.I.G.’s rhymes are the showstoppers. The tracks only enhance them, whether it’s the live bass driving a menacing undercurrent or [the] use of bluesy guitar and wah-wah feedback” and that the production is used to “push the rapper to new heights.”

I can feel the melody inside of me
Flowing through my hands
Jumping through my chest
Bumpin in my brain brain brain
It’s no obsession, it’s an addiction
Can’t live without it, cuz it helps with my emotions
When I’m sad, it gives me a smile
And when I’m down it helps me forget the hurt
Just the sound is so captivating
I just can’t help but groove to the music
When I hear it, I can feel it
It’s something that became part of me
Just the bass, piano and strings
Creates a melody that makes you feel good
So much passion, so much life
There’s only one way to describe how I feel and it’s I’m in love
I’m in love with music
I’m in love with music
I’m in love with music
I’m in love with music
Love it when it’s bumpin
Cuz it flows right in my system
I just can’t help it cuz
I can feel it
I’m in love with music
~LUKAY

Privileged to know these gents and again proud of the message…
“Shots in the Dark” is a smooth gangsta track with a true story laced over a gritty beat.
The family of BUCKTOWN USA just celebrated their 10 Year Anniversary the other night in NYC with an amazing show.
Make sure you follow the movement and continue to
SUPPORT!

Ignacio Soltero is a Brooklyn based, born and raised, photographer. He always had an interest in photography since learning of the process at eleven years old at day camp. Two years later, he learned how to operate a manual film camera and develop B&W film in a dark room in Junior HS. At that time, he mostly photographed school events, skateboarding & his bmx biking friends on the weekends. The passion for photography was short lived due to the lack of funds to buy a camera. A few years later, his interest in photography got sparked again while studying Advertising Design in college. He then began to document his mountain bike adventures throughout Brooklyn. With those photos, he then formed a website with friends documenting other mountain bikers in NYC. Since then, he has used his skills from shooting action sports photography and applied them to shooting DJs, dancers and other events.

Based out of Portland, Oregon this young hustler who released Cold Winter as well as 3 other mixtapes has taken his savings and opened up a Chicken & Waffle spot with & for his family which I think is super dope! Cassow recently inspired by TRIBE GVNG’s Let’s Get Wealthy ft. Su Bviley & Cvse, decided to do his own version and brought Felicia Taylor to sing the hook what was a missing element from the original song. I promise you will put it on replay…

Came across a story by J.R. Gramble
and thought I would share…
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@missybnyc

Being from Queens, growing up immersed in the infant stages of this explosive hip-hop culture, it was natural for me to write a piece celebrating the life of JMJ, the unlimited boundaries of his musical influence, and how his mere presence symbolized a brighter future for any young African-American kid with a dream and drive. Living in Queens gave you direct access to those larger than life stars plastered on the walls of my bedroom. You might see them at the barbershop with their Pathfinder parked outside. Or the fish spot posted up by their 5-series Beamer.

Run DMC was the first mega act I saw in concert at Brooklyn’s Beacon Theatre back in 1986. My aunt took me to a show featuring them, New Edition and Shannon. And thanks to dudes like JMJ, superstardom was a realistic aspiration in Jamaica, Queens. But love for him wasn’t just an around the way thing. Back in the 80s, for kids in places like McCook, Nebraska, Des Moines, Iowa and Jackson, Mississippi; guys like JMJ were superheroes, with images in magazines and on TV screens. His adoration nationwide was massive, but nothing like the love he gets back home.

Queens, NY is one of the original breeding grounds of hip-hop. Its infectious sound penetrates human souls and conquers barriers all over the world. Throughout its history, DJ’s and rappers from the Queens area range in prominence from up-and-coming newbies to legendary pioneers of the game, like Run DMC and Jam Master Jay.

Although JMJ was born in Brooklyn, he moved to Hollis at the age of 10. Adopted as one of Queens’ own, by 13 he was talented enough to DJ on live party sets. And as fate would have it, JMJ met Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels after they graduated high school. He agreed to DJ for them because he wanted to be down with a band, any band that could utilize his ability to play various instruments. But he wasn’t just a formidable third leg. In the 2008 documentary 2 Turntables and a Microphone, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons calls him, “The leader of Run DMC and the Hollis crew.”